Attorney General

The process for jury directions and consultation with advocates is clearly set out in the Crown Court Compendium. It stipulates that ‘All written directions for the jury must be discussed, and preferably agreed, with the advocates well before they are provided to the jury’. This requirement is reiterated in the CPS policy Instructions for Prosecution Advocates which is incorporated into every prosecution brief and states ‘Advocates must also ensure that appropriate judicial directions are given in accordance with the Crown Court Compendium.

The CPS has maintained liaison with Aria’s family. It would not be appropriate to comment further on those communications.

The CPS does not hold data that would identify, for each of the last five years, the number of Crown Court acquittals in homicide cases in which it was subsequently acknowledged that the jury had been misdirected.

Tackling domestic abuse is a top priority for the government under our commitment to halve violence against women and girls.

Domestic abuse flagged charging decisions continue to have shorter timeframes than those for crime overall. In 2025/26, the mean average time from referral to charge in domestic abuse flagged cases was 25 days, compared with 44 days across all crime types. The median time from referral to charge was one day, indicating that many charging decisions were made shortly after referral to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In addition, 74.9% of charging consultations in domestic abuse flagged cases were completed within 28 days, higher than the 71.7% recorded across crime overall.

The CPS continues to work with criminal justice partners to improve the timeliness of charging decisions, particularly in more complex cases where further evidence may be required before a charging decision can be made. Through the CPS and National Police Chiefs’ (NPCC) Council Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan, the CPS is working closely with policing partners through the Pathfinder Programme to strengthen early collaboration between police and prosecutors, improve case quality, and support more timely progression from investigation to charging decision.

Alongside this, the CPS, NPCC and Home Office are currently piloting the Charging Authority Project across England and Wales, enabling the police to charge in select domestic abuse cases and forming part of wider efforts across the criminal justice system to reduce delays and improve the handling of cases. This initiative is being piloted in two CPS Areas, with plans for expansion currently being considered.

These charging initiatives form part of the CPS's objective to strengthen the handling of domestic abuse cases and deliver effective charging decisions, helping victims to access justice sooner while ensuring offenders are held to account.

Pro bono work makes a valuable contribution to access to justice and public confidence in the legal system.

2026 marks the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week, celebrating the thousands of lawyers and law students who help people access justice through pro bono legal support.

As Chair of the Attorney General's Pro Bono Committee, I am proud to champion and recognise those efforts across the legal profession - through the Pro Bono Recognition List, the Student Recognition List and the important work of the Pro Bono Committee.

Criminals should never be left to destroy countryside for their own gain.

The CPS works closely with law enforcement partners to prosecute and deter environmental offending and will hold those who perpetrate it to account.

In March, the government published its Waste Crime Action Plan, which we are bolstering with further measures to tackle organised criminal gangs operating illegal waste dumping sites.

The Law Officers’ Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by the Law Officers, or requested of the Law Officers, and the Convention applies to your question.

The Law Officers’ Convention can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:

“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 13 October 2025]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

Where victims feel dissatisfied with the service provided by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), they can submit a complaint through the CPS complaints procedure. The CPS operates a three stage complaints procedure where complaints relate to the standard of service provided by the CPS. In these cases, the final stage of the complaints process is referral to the Independent Assessor of Complaints (IAC). If the complaint is upheld, the CPS will apologise, and attempt to put the matter right wherever possible, as well as take steps to ensure that it does not happen again. In exceptional cases, where there has been an error on their part and there is clear evidence of uninsured material loss or severe distress caused by maladministration or poor service, a modest consolatory payment may be offered. Following an IAC review, victims who believe the CPS has failed to meet its obligations under the Victims’ Code may ask their MP to refer their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which can consider whether any further investigation or redress is required.

Tackling delays in the criminal justice system is an important part of delivering the swift justice that victims and witnesses deserve and improving confidence in the criminal justice system. The CPS is working with criminal justice system partners to reduce inefficiency and avoidable delay in case preparation. On 1 October 2026, a new Practice Direction on Listing in the Criminal Courts came into effect. This requires courts to convene a Case Progression meeting in the third week before a trial is listed, of which the CPS will attend. This aims to ensure issues requiring operational and judicial resolution are addressed early. The CPS is also taking action to improve its service to victims through its Victims Programme.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice to Ukraine states: 'If you travel to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the war, your activities may amount to offences under UK legislation. You could be prosecuted on your return to the UK'. Their full advice is available here: Ukraine travel advice.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which acts independently of police and government, will consider any information that is referred by the police and any decision to prosecute will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

To date, the CPS has not prosecuted any British citizens for actions carried out whilst volunteering to serve in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice to Ukraine states: 'If you travel to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the war, your activities may amount to offences under UK legislation. You could be prosecuted on your return to the UK'. Their full advice is available here: Ukraine travel advice.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which acts independently of police and government, will consider any information that is referred by the police and any decision to prosecute will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

To date, the CPS has not prosecuted any British citizens for actions carried out whilst volunteering to serve in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Using the AI tool, the Cabinet Office has identified approximately 7000 statutory duties to consult. The process of reviewing all 7000 is ongoing.

The Government has adopted its definition of anti-Muslim hostility and will refer to it when developing and revising relevant policy. The Government encourages organisations to use it in ways they consider useful and lawful. The definition is non-statutory and does not alter or replace legal duties or statutory guidance.

I would refer the Honourable Lord to Lord Hermer’s previous answer on this topic.

The table below contains data for the Attorney General's Office and each of its superintended departments relevant to the question.

Total Spend on branded goods and merchandise

The Attorney General’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) held no Senior Civil Service (SCS) away days in calendar year to date 2026.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has held two SCS away days, held at the Civil Service Club. The total cost was £1,390.75. There were no associated social or team-building activity at public expense.

The Government Legal Department (GLD) has held two centrally organised SCS away days. They were held at Herbet Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, Exchange House and at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. There were no costs attached for the venue or associated social or team-building activity.

The Crown Prosecution Service has held one SCS away day, at the Manchester Marriott Hotel Picadilly. The total cost of this event was £37,367.60.

Preparation to recruit the next Director of the Serious Fraud Office is progressing as planned and the Attorney General intends to publish the job advert at the end of this month. This will be a rigorous recruitment exercise in line with the Civil Service Commissioners’ recruitment principles. It is designed to attract and test the strongest field of talent and the selection process is expected to last at least until the end of November. The Attorney General expects to appoint a permanent Director by the end of this year, to take up the post in 2027.

The SFO plays a critical role in prosecuting fraudsters, delivering justice for victims and ridding the economy of corruption, making Britain better off. It is vital that we take the time to find and appoint the correct candidate to lead the organisation for the next five years.

Preparation to recruit the next Director of the Serious Fraud Office is progressing as planned and the Attorney General intends to publish the job advert at the end of this month. This will be a rigorous recruitment exercise in line with the Civil Service Commissioners’ recruitment principles. It is designed to attract and test the strongest field of talent and the selection process is expected to last at least until the end of November. The Attorney General expects to appoint a permanent Director by the end of this year, to take up the post in 2027.

The SFO plays a critical role in prosecuting fraudsters, delivering justice for victims and ridding the economy of corruption, making Britain better off. It is vital that we take the time to find and appoint the correct candidate to lead the organisation for the next five years.

The starting point will be that requirements are in legislation by exception. Then going forward, formal consultation should only take place where there is still a statutory requirement to consult, where it would be conspicuously unfair not to consult, or where Ministers believe there is a good case for seeking external input and that the right vehicle for doing so is a formal consultation. Even where departments have historically consulted or previously promised to consult, it is expected that each individual instance to be considered afresh, thinking about what is fair in the particular circumstances.

The Law Officers’ Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by the Law Officers, or requested of the Law Officers, and the Convention applies to your question.

The Law Officers’ Convention can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:

“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 13 October 2025]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

The Law Officers’ Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by the Law Officers, or requested of the Law Officers, and the Convention applies to your question.

The Law Officers’ Convention can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:

“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 13 October 2025]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

Since July 2026, no staff have been seconded to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) from external organisations. During the same period, no AGO civil servants have been seconded to external organisations.

The tables below contain data for the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) relevant to the question.

AGO

CPS

The Government Communication Service (GCS) is the professional network of all communications staff across Government.

The table below contains the headcount for the Attorney General’s Office and each of its superintended departments who are communications professionals.

My updated Legal Risk guidance was published on GOV.UK on 8th September 2026. I have directed my officials to place a copy in the Library of the House.

Corporate manslaughter cases are considered by the CPS Special Crime Division, which handles some of the CPS’s most complex and sensitive casework.

Our manual records confirm the number of prosecution cases in which there was a conviction for corporate manslaughter in each of the last five years is as follows:

• 2022 – 3

• 2023 – 3

• 2024 – 2

• 2025 – 1

• 2026 – 0

The CPS does not collect data that constitutes official statistics as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. Therefore, this update is based upon our collated manual records that may be subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. These figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the CPS.

The CPS does not provide specific guidance on the use of social media content as evidence in prosecutions for offences of (a) theft, (b) burglary, (c) vehicle crime and (d) dangerous driving.

However, prosecutors are required to use all available relevant and admissible evidence (including social media content) in prosecutions for all types of offence (including theft, burglary, vehicle crime and dangerous driving) in order to build the strongest possible cases.

The PQ relates to whether the government plans to negotiate changes to the European Convention of Human Rights at a Council of Europe level. There are no current plans to do so. However, the response refers to the recent Chișinău Declaration which concerns the ECHR and migration and which was adopted by the full Council of Europe in May 2026.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has assessed that modern digital technologies can enhance existing processes and support more efficient case handling. Through its Future Casework Tools programme, the CPS is modernising systems to improve the casework experience and reduce the time required to review case files. The CPS is also working with His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service on initiatives such as digital jury bundles, which aim to increase transparency, accessibility and efficiency in court proceedings.

The CPS has further assessed that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to deliver substantial efficiency gains by assisting with routine administrative tasks. This can enable prosecutors and other specialists to devote more time to complex legal work and decision-making. The CPS published its AI Vision in July 2025, setting out how AI can be used to drive efficiencies in a legal, safe and ethical manner, while ensuring responsible use, transparency and coordination across the criminal justice system.

No delivery advisers have been appointed either by Direct Ministerial Appointment, as civil servants appointed by exception, or as permanent civil servants appointed through open competition. A list of special advisers is published each year in the Annual Report on Special Advisers.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) does not individually monitor the amount of food waste. The AGO is located in a shared building where facilities management is overseen by the Ministry of Justice.

The UK and EU share information and data as part of our broader cooperation on trade, economy, and security.

The Attorney General’s Office is a small ministerial department and does not maintain any databases for the purpose of reporting information directly to the European Commission or its agencies. Where information is provided in relation to international obligations, this would ordinarily be coordinated through the lead Government department responsible for the relevant policy area.

The Crown Prosecution Service does not have any formal direct reporting requirements to the EU Commission. For the Government Legal Department (GLD), any reporting obligations arising from policy or operational activity would generally sit with the relevant client department, rather than with GLD itself. The Serious Fraud Office does not provide any reporting to the European Commission. HMCPSI does not have any data and reporting requirements in relation to the European Commission and its agencies.

The Attorney General’s Office has not operated or made available any internship schemes in the last 12 months.

The Crown Prosecution Service has not provided any internship schemes in the last 12 months.

In the last 12 months, the following internship schemes have been made available through the Government Legal Profession and the Government Legal Department, excluding the Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme: the Sutton Trust week-long internship, the GLP Diversity Summer Scheme, and the Government Legal Department Law Placement Scheme. These internship and placement schemes are offered to improve access to the legal profession.

The Serious Fraud Office do not have internship programmes in place.

HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has not made any internship schemes available.

The Attorney General’s Office does not operate any internship schemes that are restricted to applicants on the basis of (i) ethnicity, (ii) social class, or (iii)both.

The CPS, SFO and HMCPSI do not offer internship schemes.

The Government Legal Department (GLD) supports three internship and placement schemes that aim to improve access to the legal profession: the Sutton Trust internship, the Government Legal Profession (GLP) Summer Diversity Scheme and the GLD Law Placement Scheme. None of these schemes restricts applicants on the basis of ethnicity. Eligibility criteria for some schemes are designed to support social mobility.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) requires staff to attend the workplace for a minimum of 60% of their contracted working time, in line with the Civil Service office attendance expectation. The AGO operates from a single office location in London. Attendance data is collated at a departmental level.

As the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is a geographically dispersed organisation with staff working across offices, courts, police stations and other government departments' buildings, local leadership provide assurance of compliance with CPS’s hybrid working policy and conduct local monitoring, but attendance statistics are not specifically collated at a national level.

The Government Legal Department (GLD), irrespective of site, has a 60% attendance expectation, but we do not currently collect attendance statistics for each of our individual sites.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) requires 40% workplace attendance, which is an exception to the Cabinet Office guidance for 60% occupancy. This is due to the SFO having reduced its space at its current office (Canada House) based on 40% attendance and secured space in its new office (Cabot Square, Canary Wharf) based on the same. The SFO operates from a single office site, currently at Canada House and is set to move to Cabot Square before the end of the financial year. However, employees also work from other locations, including court or across the country when conducting executive action. Attendance is currently managed locally by line managers and statistics are not collated automatically.

For HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI), the nature of the work is such that inspectors are frequently “on-site” for inspection work in the offices of those they inspect. HMCPSI staff meet at both the London and York offices regularly for inspection and other meetings as per their inspection methodology as business need dictates. All staff are required to attend a mandated office day once a month as well as all staff days and all-inspector days, which are mandated, in addition to the above. Central attendance statistics are not collated for either office by HMCPSI as they share space in both locations with other departments.

It is not routine to disclose correspondence between Ministers or Permanent Secretaries and any individual or organisation.

It is not routine to disclose correspondence between Ministers or Permanent Secretaries and any individual or organisation.

It is not possible to provide an estimate for hours spent preparing Ministers to respond to Westminster Hall Debates. There will be differences in the Civil Service, Special Adviser and Ministerial time depending on the policy matter and length of the debate. Debates can also be cross-cutting and require resources from multiple departments or engage departmental bodies.

The Attorney General’s Office has not spent any money on social media influencers since July 2024.

The guidelines for influencer and content creator marketing were created by the Government Communication Service and first published internally in November 2023.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) promotes awareness of diversity and inclusion through its Diversity and Inclusion Group and by highlighting relevant dates and initiatives throughout the year.

In 2025, AGO maintained a calendar of significant diversity and inclusion dates to support awareness and engagement across the department. As part of this, staff were invited to take part and contribute to monthly lunchtime sessions which focussed on any significant diversity and inclusion themes, including disability, religion, race, LGBTQ+, gender and wellbeing. In addition to this, the Attorney General hosted an event in April 2025 to celebrate Eid and AGO officials were invited to an event in December 2025 hosted by the CPS to celebrate Black History Month.

In 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognised the following diversity and inclusion days: Holocaust Memorial Day (January), International Women’s Day (March), Social Mobility Day (June), World Prematurity Day (November) and International Days of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). In 2026, CPS recognised the following diversity and inclusion weeks: Race Equality Week (February), Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March), World Autism Acceptance Week (April), Carers Week (June), National Inclusion Week (September) and Inter-faith Week (November).

In 2025, the Government Legal Department (GLD) recognised the following diversity and inclusion days: Holocaust Memorial Day (January), International Women's Day (March), Social Mobility Day (June), World Prematurity Day (November) and International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) (December). GLD recognised the following diversity and inclusion weeks: Race Equality Week (February), Carers Week (June), National Inclusion Week (September) and Inter-Faith Week (November). GLD recognised the following diversity and inclusion months: LGBT+ History Month (February), South Asian Heritage Month (July), Pride Month (July) and Black History Month (October).

In 2025, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) recognised the following diversity and inclusion days: International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex-phobia and Transphobia (May), Social Mobility Awareness Day (June), London Pride Parade (July), World Mental Health Day (October), Stress Awareness Day (November), International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December) and Christmas (December). The SFO recognised the following diversity and inclusion weeks: Eid (June), Carer’s Awareness Week (June), Baby loss awareness week (October), Diwali (October) and Hanukkah (December). The SFO recognised the following diversity and inclusion months: Pride Month (June), South Asian Heritage month (July), Black History Month (October), Men’s health awareness month (November), and Islamophobia awareness month (November).

HMCPSI marked International Women’s Day on LinkedIn, World Mental Health Day with an intranet post and Black History month with an intranet post.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) did not incur any facility time costs in (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26. The department had no staff recorded as facility time representatives during those years and no staff spent 100% of their working time on facility time. The AGO did not provide funding for trade union activities during the periods in scope.

The Crown Prosecution Service do not have any representatives on 100% facility time and no funding has been provided for union activities in any of those years. The headcount number of facility time staff (a) 2023 – 24 was 74, (b) 2024-25 was 67 and (c) 2025-26 was 65. The total cost of facility time (a) 2023 – 24 was £347,237.00, (b) 2024-25 was £350,100.13 and (c) 2025 – 26 was £320,987.25.

For the Government Legal Department, the (a) 23-24 the headcount of reps was 31, the total cost was £114,000 and none of them were on 100% facility time, (b) 24-25 the headcount was 33, the total cost was £87,000 and none of them were on 100% facility time and for (c) no data was recorded.We have interpreted ‘funding’ for trade union activities as paid trade union facility time for activities. No funding was paid for TU activities in those years.

For the Serious Fraud Office, in (a) 2023-24 the total cost of facilities time was £5617, the headcount was 9, (b) 2024-25 the total cost of facilities time was £22,418, the headcount was 9, (c) the total cost of facilities time was £9908 and the headcount was 9. For all years no staff were on 100% facility time and no funding was provided for trade union activities in each of those years.

For HMCPSI, this question is not applicable.

Information is released in regular transparency returns by the Department.

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